The Lilium regale is the only one other than the Asiatics to have bloomed yet. Aaahh – the fragrance…!

Happy GBBD everyone! Well, things are definitely slowing down over here, or perhaps more so taking a break. The Asiatic lilies are spent while the orientals are coming, the crocosmias are on fire, as are the Rudbeckias. This year the agapanthus (which were new last year) are coming. During their first year in their new home, they didn’t bloom much. “How much did you water them?” asked the lady at the nursery when I compared the abundance of blooms on theirs to the paltry display of mine. “Uum…not super-much”, I admitted, feeling not so little silly. As it turns out, just because a plant originates in Africa doesn’t mean it is drought tolerant – duh! This year, they are returning the favor. There are plenty of buds, but only one is in flower as I write this. For more exciting fare than what I have to offer today, mosey on over to Carol at May Dreams Garden to check out her and others’ lovelies…

More lilies coming! In combination with the Star Jasmine, the end of July is going to be absolutely perfumy!

Lovely lace-caps in the front of the house still going strong…

… the ones in the back are fading to green.

The very last of the Asiatics on the way out… I really do miss them when they’re gone!

Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’ – currently providing a color explosion with its velvety red petals which will eventually fade to a more rusty color. I’m amazed at how many flowers it has – it is a single plant! Oops, and I just realized that I photographed a Daddy Longlegs in the process too!

Here it is next to Rudbeckia ‘Green Wizard’, which unfortunately is on its way out. I had hoped the two would be more in sync – they would look so cool together…

The Agapanthus I thought was blue turned out to be white! No matter – I still love it!

And here is the ‘Storm Cloud’ version. This one is most definitely going to be blue!

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ in the morning light.

It seems the black calla lilies I bought this year are all very floppy – as in they can’t keep their heads up. My over-wintered ones don’t seem to have that problem, but at least this one had the good sense to flop where it would still look good – resting its weary, somewhat nibbled blossom on a cushion of purple fountain grass.

The surprise of the morning – a new flower on a Hellebore! I just moved it – it must really like its new location…

Speaking of new locations – this one needs to be moved. It’s looking far too un-gangly in its current home, and deserves a better backdrop for its thistely glory, methinks.

These guys always make me laugh – they are so strange… Arum pictum.

Roses, fuchsias and clematis are still full of flowers, but you have already seen those in earlier posts – except for maybe one – Clematis Rooguchi. So far it has only given me one single blossom, and I think I know why. Everything around it has gotten so overgrown and big that I don’t think it’s getting enough light. I think it’s time to release it from its relatively confined existence and let it loose over some nearby, relatively more sun-drenched shrubs instead. Maybe that’ll do the trick… This is by far the most beautiful clematis I have, so I will do what I can to give it what it wants. Believe me – this is not one that I would like to see choked out of existence! But I really don’t want to move it in the mid-July drought…

A whole new level of Lovely, don’t you think?

Finally, a visit to my friend Matthew’s stunning garden last weekend, inspired me to add to my daisy selection. Among his amazing and more exclusive treasures, he had beautiful African daisies, Enchianthus, Rudbeckias, and others whose names evade me. He said the African daisies return every year in his garden, so despite my vow to practically stay away from annuals (for the most part anyway – I made an early exception for a really interesting-looking Osteospermum), I picked a pretty orange one up. In the process, I found a few others I really should have left where I found them. Where in the universe am I going to put them all? Annual or not, I have never managed to resist adorning my chaotic assembly with a black millet, and I couldn’t this year either. The little fuzzy, green heads of the Dianthus were far too cute to ignore. I think I have a thing for Dr. Seussian plants… If I had room for a Truffula Tree, I would probably grow one… As for the yellow Rudbeckia – what convinced me was how it turns orange as it ages. I’m an absolute sucker for that rusty color, whether on flowers or on scrap steel…

New purchase, still in its pot – Rudbeckia ‘Cheyenne spririt’. I found four of them looking awfully wilty at Lowes on Sunday night. There was nobody in sight to water them, so I grabbed the best looking one, and stuck the other three in their fountain display for a while, while I browsed. Hopefully they recovered somewhat – they looked pretty miserable. If not, someone else probably jumped for joy when they inventoried the clearance shelf the following day…

My African daisy! Here is to prodigious spreading of seeds all around! 🙂

That black millet I can never stay away from – so cool!

I had never seen this kind of Dianthus before – so very Seussian!

Osteospermum ‘Whirlygig’ – such an oddball! I love how the petals are pinched halfway out. Such an interesting flower!

I like how the colors range from bright yellow to rust. But where to put it…?

Since I have showed a couple of other fuzzy beings today – here is a third one – my favorite gardening buddy – Manneman TsoTso – affectionately named by my oldest son. Not sure what ninja adventure inspired that one, but it fits him perfectly… Anyway, it should be obvious to all that taking care of a lawn is clearly not my thing.

I’ll say my goodbyes with a gentle wish that he leaves the resident birds alone. Obviously, it is not for lack of food that he does it. He does wear a bell, but even that is not entirely foolproof. Until next time – have a great month!

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About annamadeit

I was born and raised in Sweden, By now, I have lived almost as long in the United States. The path I’ve taken has been long and varied, and has given me a philosophical approach to life. I may joke that I’m a sybarite, but the truth is, I find joy and luxury in life’s simple things as well.
My outlook on life has roots in a culture rich in history and tradition, and I care a great deal about environmental stewardship. Aesthetically, while drawn to the visually clean, functional practicality and sustainable solutions that are the hallmarks of modern Scandinavia, I also have a deep appreciation for the raw, the weathered, and the worn - materials that tell a story. To me, contrast, counterpoint, and diversity are what makes life interesting and engaging.
Color has always informed everything I do. I’m a functional tetrachromat, and a hopeless plantoholic. I was originally trained as an architect working mostly on interiors, but soon ventured outside - into garden design. It’s that contrast thing again… An interior adrift from its exterior, is like a yin without a yang. My firm conviction that everything is connected gets me in trouble time and time again. The world is a big place, and full of marvelous distractions, and offers plentiful opportunities for inquiry and exploration.
I started writing to quell my constant queries, explore my discoveries, and nurture my curiosity. The Creative Flux was started in 2010, and became a catch-all for all kinds of intersecting interests. The start of Flutter & Hum at the end of 2013 marks my descent into plant nerd revelry. I occasionally contribute to other blogs, but those two are my main ones. For sure, topics are all over the map, but then again - so am I! Welcome to my blogs!

32 Responses to Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – July 2013

Oh, I love that orange African daisy, how beautiful! I have a Clematis rooguchi too, out there somewhere, just planted this spring. I guess I’m not babying mine much, since I don’t even remember where I planted it. Such a sweet flower.

Alison – if it multiplies, I will save some for you! Also, you will LOVE the Rooguchi! It seems a gentle soul, and right now mine needs a little help. Someone said an epsom salt solution to increase magnesium levels (its leaves are a little yellowed) and unfettering it from its screen should do it! Fingers crossed…

Thanks Jane – I was just complaining to Ricki about how hard it is to photograph reds. The Cherry brandy somehow looks much pinker in the photos than they really are. I bet you it’s my camera skills – or lack thereof.

Yeah, I found it at the Hardy Plant Society’s spring sale a year ago. Instantly fell for it! I’m astounded it is as prolific as it is – it languished in a pot for most of a year before I found it a home. Perhaps it is gratitude… Anyway – it has won my heart!

I like the variety in your garden. It’s given me some good ideas to look for when expanding mine!
By the way, I am also not a lawn person. Can’t keep grass alive for anything. Probably because I just don’t care about it that much!

Thanks Linnae – I suffer from a severe case of oneofeachitis – there is something in my garden for everyone! I’m totally with you on the lawn-thing… Although I like the green expanse it offers, I think I can achieve that effect with a different groundcover. A low-growing clover would be nice, stay green year-round, and the bees would no doubt love it! Plus, I wouldn’t have to mowe it (which obviously I don’t do often anyway)! 😉

Hmmmm…I’ve had agapanthus go from purple to white too, so don’t start doubting yourself just yet! 🙂 I’ve never been able to figure out what makes them change though. I love your ‘Whirleygig’–I can see why you’d make an exception for that in your yard!

I thought my ‘Cherry Brandy’ was overachieving until I saw yours! It’s an amazing plant – one of mine has bloomed almost continuously since last fall and the color is unmatched. I was surprised to see that Agapanthus are just getting started while mine are largely over the hill but that indicates how different our climates really are. I wish you a belated happy GBBD!

Thanks, Janie! It’s a Cardoon – a kind of thistle which is a cousin of the artichoke. It gets pretty ratty looking eventually, but the bees are having orgies in its flowers so I leave it alone. I was thinking I might plant a Melianthus in front of it. It has fabulous blue foliage too, and is tall enough to isolate the Cardoon’s flowers and properly show them off, minus the tall, bare stems.